Asymmetric bars for use in gymanastics

ABSTRACT

Adjustable asymmetric bars for use in gymnastics comprising two handrails, the lower one fixed and the upper one adjustable such that the distance between the handrails can be altered without affecting the perpendicularity of the handrails. The upper handrail is supported by uprights, each of which is divided into two sections, the lower of which is pivotally mounted to a stand and to the upper section which in turn is fixed to the adjacent upright supporting the lower handrail by use a telescoping bar through which the distance between the handrails is altered.

United States Patent Thomasson Dec. 3, '1974 ASYMMETRIC BARS FOR USE IN 3,473,80l 10 1969 Nissen et al. .0 272/63 3,486,750 12/1969 Krawitz .1 272/63 GYMANASTICS 3,653,658 4/l972 Robertson 272/63 [75 Inventor ga g: gf 'fzi Same FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 73,336 2/1394 Germany 272/63 [73] AssIgnee: Thomasson, Lyon, Rhone, France [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 Primary Examiner--Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-42. T. Stouffer [21] Appl' 396104 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrowdy & Neimark [30] Foreign Application Priority Data ABSTRACT Sept. 25, 1972 France 72.34464 Adjustable asymmetric bars for use in gymnastics comprising two handrails, the lower one fixed and the [521 U.S. c1. 272/63, 403/167 pp one adjustable such that the i n etween 51 Int. Cl A63b 3/00 the handrails earl be altered without affecting the P [53] Fi ld f S h U 272/60 R, 1 2 63 4; pendicularity of the handrails. The upper handrail is 24 /13 1; 403 1 7 supported by uprights, each of which is divided into two sections, the lower of which is pivotally mounted 5 References Cited to a stand and to the upper section which in turn is UNITED STATES PATENTS fixed to the adjacent upright supporting the lower 1 H1 268 9/1914 M d t 272/63 handrail by use a telescoping bar through which the 6 ar .I 1,734,664 11/1929 Albach 272/63 dlstance between the handra'ls altered 3,397,882 8/1968 Reuther .6 272/63 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEL DEB 31974 SHEET 2 BF 2 ASYMMETRIC BARS FOR USE IN GYMANASTICS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to asymmetric bars as used by gymnasts. More particularly to an apparatus to increase the possibilities for adjusting the spacing of the bars without jeopardizing the perpendicularity of the handrails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION currently available asymmetric bars comprise parallel horizontal bars or handrails supported at different levels by two pairs of uprights braced by tensioning cables. Since the permissible height of the handrails is controlled by international regulations, adjustment of the handrail spacing with a view to adapting them to the height of the gymnasts may only be achieved by modifying the inclination of one or both pairs of uprights, which may be pivoted to a stand.

The handrails are of oval cross-section and the major axis of this section should remain vertical as far as possible. With conventional apparatus, movement of the handrails closer together or further apart causes their major axes to be necessarily inclined since these handrails are integral with the uprights.

This drawback which could'be tolerated in the past, is no longer acceptable; the requirements of modern gymnastics demand that adjustment of hand-rail spacing be possible within wide limits. Evolution of both the individual gymnasts skill and the types of exercises requires ever increasing adjustment of hand-rail spacing for competition. It must also be possible to considerably reduce the spacing to facilitate the initiation of young persons to gymnastic exercises on asymmetric bars.

With currently available bars, the hand-rails may be separated by as much as 780mm, which corresponds to an inclination of the hand-rails of more than 7 from the vertical. But it is necessary in certain circumstances to have a spacing of as much as 900mm. for the reasons above-described, which results in an inclination of more than 10 with conventional apparatus. Such an inclination hinders gymnasts considerably. This is unacceptable.

Moreover, by inclining the hand-rails to modify their spacing, their level is varied. This occurs to a greater extent, the greater the hand-rail inclination. While the variations in these levels observed in currently available apparatus remain relatively slight, in numerous cases, they still are greater than the tolerances fixed by international regulations. In fact, these regulations state that if the spacing of the hand-rails may be chosen freely, their levels must not diverge by more or less than 5mm. from the prescribed values.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to remedy the two drawbacks mentioned above simultaneously.

Accordingly, in the present invention, there are provided asymmetric bars comprising a stand, a lower handrail supported by two uprights whose position with respect to the stand of the apparatus is fixed, and an upper handrail which is supported by two uprights which may be inclined. Each of the uprights of the upper handrail is formed by two tubular semi-uprights. The lower semi-upright is pivotally attached at its base to the stand and is shorter than the corresponding lower tube of the lower handrail. The upper semiuprightiis arranged substantially vertically and is pivotally attached to the top of the lower semi-upright by a horizontal pin arranged parallel to the handrails. The bottom of the upper semi-upright is integral with one end of a substantially horizontally arranged telescopic bar, the other end of this bar being pivotally connected, by means of horizontal pin arranged parallel to the handrails, to the corresponding upright of the lower handrail. I

By modifying the length of the two telescopic bars, the inclination of the lower semi-uprights can be varied, while the inclination of both the telescopic bars and the upper semi-uprights varies to only a negligible extent.

Even if the lower semi-upright is inclined to a certain extent, the level of its articulation to the upper semiupright only varies within slight limits. As a result the telescopic bar remains substantially horizontal. In practice, the angle of inclination of the upper handrail does not exceed a few degrees.

As in existing apparatus, once the bars have been brought into the desired position, they are immobilized by both bracing with tensioning cables'extending from the top of the uprights and by placing a device on the telescopic bars to prevent any modification of the bar length.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower semi-uprights are pivotally attached at their base to the stand by means of a single horizontal pin arranged parallel to the hand-rails. This embodiment thus uses a single articulation of the lower semi-uprights to the stand. The top of each lower semi-upright can thus describe an arc of a'circle centered on the pivot pin.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the lower semi-uprights are pivotally attached at their base to the stand by means of a double pivot comprising a first member pivoted to the stand by a pin parallel to the hand-rails, and a second memberpivoted to the first by a pin arranged parallel to the hand-rails and integral with the base of the respective semi-uprights. The lower semi-upright is thus able to be rotated about one or the other of the aforesaid pins depending upon the side to which it is to be inclined. Thus, the top of each lower semi-upright can thus describe, depending upon the side to which it is to be inclined, a trajectory in the form of an arc of a circle centered at one or the other of the pins of the double pivot. The single arc of a circle described by the top of the lower semi-uprights in the one embodiment is thus replaced by two arcs of a circle in this embodiment due to the double pivot. This considerably reduces the difference between the extreme levels of inclination reached by the tops of these semi-uprights.

If the two axesof rotation of the double pivot are quite widely spaced, the effect obtained becomes very interesting.

In a third embodiment of the invention, the distance between the two pins of the double pivot is substantially equal to half the latitude for adjusting the spacing of the hand-rails and the base of each lower semiupright is placed at an equal distance from the two respective pivot pins as determined when the lower semiupright is in a vertical position. So spaced, the trajectory of the top of each lower semi-upright will describe two equal arcs the limits of which are located at the same level, which in turn is located barely lower than the level of the centers of the arcs. This latter embodiment gives the most satisfactory results: the spacing is adjustable between 540 and 900mm, the inclination of the hand-rails never exceeds 1 and variations in the level of the upper hand-rail remain less than mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of asymmetric bars according to the invention in the vertical position;

FIG. 2 illustrates the adjustment of bars provided with a single pivot at the base of the lower semiuprights;

FIG. 3 illustrates the adjustment of bars provided with a double pivot at the base of the lower semiuprights; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a double pivot to an enlarged scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows the asymmetric bars from the side, comprising lower and upper hand-rails 2 and 3 respectively, of which only the ends may be seen. The handrails 2 and 3 are fixed by means of an arrangement of uprights to a stand 4 resting on the ground.

The lower hand-rail 2 is supported at its ends by two uprights 5. The uprights 5 are fixed with respect to the stand 4 in a vertical position.

Each upright 5 comprises a lower tube 6 into which is slidably mounted an upper tube 7 of smaller diameter. It is thus possible to adjust the lower hand-rail 2 to the desired level. It should be noted that the hand-rail 2 may only be displaced in a vertical plane and consequently that the major axis of its oval cross-section always remains vertical. The lower hand-rail 2 may not be inclined to the vertical at all.

The upper hand-rail 3 is supported at its ends by two uprights 8, each comprising two parts 9 and I1 pivoted to each other, hereinafter referred to as semi' uprights.

A lower semi-upright 9 is formed by a tube which is slightly shorter than the lower tube 6 of the upright 5. It is pivoted at its lower end to the stand 4 by means of a single or double pivot 12 allowing it to move in only one plane. perpendicular to the hand-rails 2 and 3. The distance d between the pivot 12 and the base of the uprights 5 corresponds to the means spacing between the hand-rails 2 and 3.

The lower semi-uprights 9 may be kept in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 1, or be inclined inwards or outwards, thus forming an angle A with the vertical.

An upper semi-upright 11 comprises a tube lla pivoted at its lower end to the top of a respective lower semi-upright 9. The pin 13 of this pivot is horizontal.

Slidably mounted in each tube Ila is a tube 11b of lesser diameter. supporting the upper hand-rail 3 and making it possible to locate the latter at the desired level. It should be noted that the major axis of the oval cross-section of the upper hand-rail 3 forms an angle B, shown with the vertical equal to the inclination of the upper semi-uprights 11 to the vertical. In addition, the angle B represents the angle formed by the major axes of the cross-sections of the two hand-rails. since that of hand-rail 2 remains vertical.

Uprights 5 and 8 located on opposite sides of the asymmetric bars are connected to each other by means of a telescopic bar 14 which is substantially horizontal.

The end of the bar 14 located adjacent to the upright 5 is pivoted to the latter by a horizontal pin 15 arranged parallel to the hand-rails. The pin 15 is located slightly below the top of the tube 6 and at the same level as the pivot pin 13 uniting the two semi-uprights 9 and 11 provided lower semi-upright 9 is in the vertical position, which corresponds to the view shown in FIG. 1.

The other end of the bar 14, located adjacent to the upright 8, is integral with the base of the upper semiupright 11 with which is formed an angle C of The bar 14 comprises an elbow 16 at its end adjacent to the upright 5 and is slightly inclined from the horizontal such that the pins i5 and 13 are substantially at the same level.

in the embodiment shown in FlG. 1, when the spacing of the hand-rails 2 and 3 is at its mean value. the two semi-uprights 9 and 11 are aligned vertically. The angle B is thus zero. The limit positions of the uprights 8 have been shown in dot-dash line. For example. they make it possible to give the hand-rail spacing extreme values of S40 and 900mm. the mean spacing d being 720mm. Once a spacing has been chosen, the two tubes sliding one in the other which constitute the telescopic bars 14 are immobilized with respect to each other. Moreover, two tensioning cables 19 are stretched between the top of each upright and the ground.

With reference to FIG. 2 where the axes of the uprights have been shown in their mean position and in a position corresponding to a relatively large spacing of the hand-rails, to modify the spacing of the hand-rails. the length of the telescopic bar 14 is altered. This has the effect of giving the lower semi-upright 9 an inclination A to the vertical. in one direction or the other. In the case of a single pivot at 12, the pin 13 for pivoting the semi-uprights 9 and 11 moves along an arc of a circle 17, centered on the axis of rotation 18 of the pivot 12; its level varies and consequently the telescopic bar 14 assumes a certain inclination B to the horizontal, equal to the inclination B of the upper semi-upright II to the vertical.

With a single pivot. the lower semi-upright 9 is inclined by an angle A to the vertical. its upper end 13 having described from the mean position designated by T an arc TM of dimension A and of radius R. If N designates the point of intersection other than M of the direction of the telescopic bar 14 with the circle 17, the dimension of angle 8 is equal to:

V2 (TM TN) This dimension clearly varies according to the ratio of the length of the semi-upright 9 to the distance d, but the figure shows that. if the angle A is quite small. the angle B is in turn much smaller still than the angle A. It should be noted that whatever the direction of inclination of the lower semi-upright 9. the direction of inclination of the telescopic bar 14 will always be the same. consequently. the upper semi-upright 11 is always inclined towards the outside of the apparatus. The inclination of the two semi-uprights 9 and 11 inevitably involves a lowering of the upper hand-rail 3, but this remains negligible provided that angle A is not too great.

If the device according to the invention is compared with a device currently on the market. in which the upper hand-rail 3 is supported by rigid uprights 21, represented in dot-dash line in FIG. 2, the lowering of the hand-rail 3 may be less with the standard device but its inclination D is clearly greater than the inclination B obtained with the new device. Thus, the invention has considerable advantage even with a pivot 12 of the single type.

However, it is more advantageous to use a pivot 12 of the double type, similar to the pivots which make it possible to open a door from either direction. A pivot of this type is illustrated in FIG. 4 in an enlarged scale.

This double pivot 12 uses an intermediate member 22 pivoted to the stand 4 by a pin 23 and to a member 24 integral with the base of the semi-upright 9 by a pin 25. The pins 23 and 25 are parallel to the hand-rails and are located on either side of the base of the semiupright 9 and at an equal distance from the latter provided the semi-upright 9 is in the vertical position. L designates the distance separating the pins 23 and 25 which is slightly less than the length of the member 22. This member 22 may occupy a horizontal position, as shown in full line in FIG. 4, by resting on a plate 26 forming the base of the stand 4. It may also occupy an inclined position, as shown in dot-dash line in FIG. 4, an aperture 27 provided in the upper part of the stand 4 allowing it to project above this stand 4. The member 24 is pivoted to one end of the member 22 and its free end is directed towards the other end of the member 22. Locking means integral with the member 22, constituted by abutments not shown, prevent the member 24 from descending below the member 22. Thus, the member 24 may occupy a position parallel to the member 22, as shown in dot-dash line, or even a position inclined above the member 22, as shown in full line. The aperture 27 is sufficiently long to allow the member 24 to project above the stand 4. The axis 28 of the semiupright 9 is arranged to be perpendicular to the member 24 at a distance L/2 from the pin 25. The base of the semi-upright 9 and the member 24 form a rigid arrangement.

Turning to FIG. 3, if the semi-upright 9 is inclined towards the outside, as shown in full-line, the member 22 remains horizontal, whereas the member 24 is raised by pivoting about the pin 25. The result is that the upper i In contrast to the single-pivot embodiment, the top of end of the semi-upright 9 describes an arc of a circle 29 whose axis is the same as that of the pin 25.

If the semi-upright 9 is inclined towards the upright 5, as shown in dot-dash line, the member 22 is raised by pivoting about the pin 23, whereas the member 24 remains parallel to the member 22. The result is that the top of the semi-upright this time describes an arc of a circle 31 whose axis is that of pin 23.

The radii 32 and 33 joining the centers of rotation 23 and 25 to the top of the semi-upright 9 each describe an angle A. chosen such that the top of the semiupright 9 may be displaced between two extreme positions separated by a distance 2L. Thus, for asymmetric bars whose spacing varies between 540 and 900mm, the adjustment latitude 2L is 360mm. and the distance separating the pins 23 and 25 is l80mm. The pivot 12 has its center located at a distance D equal to 720mm. from the base of the uprights 5 supporting the lower hand-rail 2. The angle formed by the extreme positions of the semiupright 9 is approximately equal to 2A; to obtain the same possibilities of adjustment with a single pivot, it is thus necessary that the angle A has substantially the same dimensions as the maximum angle of inclination to the vertical assumed by the lower semiupright 9 in the ease of the single pivot.

of radius R and dimension 2A, but two juxtaposed arcs 29 and 31 of the same radius R and each of dimension A. Since the ends of these two arcs are located at the same level, the difference in the extreme levels reached by the top of the lower semi-upright 9 becomes equal to the sagitta of an arc of dimension A, whereas with a single pivot it was equal to the sagitta of an arc of dimension 2A and of the same radius which is approximately four times greater.

Since the upper semi-upright 11 remains practically vertical, the result is that the variations in level of the upper hand-rail 3 are also considerably reduced.

The double pivot has an additional advantage owing to the fact that the pin 13 undergoes less variations in height, and the inclination B of the telescopic bars 14 and consequently, the inclination of the upper handrail 3 are further reduced.

The results obtained have proven very satisfactory. The inclination of the upper hand-rail 3 remains less than 1 and the latter undergoes fluctuations of height less than 5mm., while the spacing may be regulated between the extreme values of 540 and 900mm.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

What is claimed is:

1. Adjustable asymmetric bars for use in gymnastics comprising a stand;

a lower handrail supported by at least one upright, each of said at least one lower handrail supporting upright being fixedly mounted to said stand in a vertical position and means for adjusting the level of said lower handrail with respect to said stand;

an upper handrail supported by at least one upright, each of said at least one upper handrail supporting upright being inclinable and comprising two semiuprights, the lower of said sembuprights being pivotally attached at its lower end to said stand and having its upper end located at a level lower than the upper end of said lower hand-rail, and the upper of said semi-uprights being arranged sub stantially vertically and being pivotally attached at its base to the top of said lower semi-upright by means of a pin arranged substantially parallel to said handrails; telescopic bar arranged substantially horizontally pivotally connecting .said upright of said lower handrail and being fixedly connected to said upper semi-upright of the adjacent inclinable upright of said upper handrail.

2. Adjustable asymmetric bars in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the at least one lower semiupright is pivotally attached to said stand by means of a simple pin.

3. Adjustable asymmetric bars in accordance with claim lwherein each of the at least one lower semiupright is pivotally attached to the stand by means of a double pivot comprising a first member pivoted by means of a first pin to the stand, and a second member pivoted by means of a second pin to said first member, said second member being fixedly attached to the lower end of said lower semi-upright.

one-half the distance between said first pin and said second pin.

5. Adjustable asymmetric bars in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lower handrail upright comprises a lower tube and an upper tube telescoping into said lower tube for slidable movement for adjusting the level of said lower handrail. 

1. Adjustable asymmetric bars for use in gymnastics comprising a stand; a lower handrail supported by at least one upright, each of said at least one lower handrail supporting upright being fixedly mounteD to said stand in a vertical position and means for adjusting the level of said lower handrail with respect to said stand; an upper handrail supported by at least one upright, each of said at least one upper handrail supporting upright being inclinable and comprising two semi-uprights, the lower of said semi-uprights being pivotally attached at its lower end to said stand and having its upper end located at a level lower than the upper end of said lower hand-rail, and the upper of said semi-uprights being arranged substantially vertically and being pivotally attached at its base to the top of said lower semiupright by means of a pin arranged substantially parallel to said handrails; a telescopic bar arranged substantially horizontally pivotally connecting said upright of said lower handrail and being fixedly connected to said upper semi-upright of the adjacent inclinable upright of said upper handrail.
 2. Adjustable asymmetric bars in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the at least one lower semi-upright is pivotally attached to said stand by means of a simple pin.
 3. Adjustable asymmetric bars in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the at least one lower semi-upright is pivotally attached to the stand by means of a double pivot comprising a first member pivoted by means of a first pin to the stand, and a second member pivoted by means of a second pin to said first member, said second member being fixedly attached to the lower end of said lower semi-upright.
 4. Adjustable asymmetric bars in accordance with claim 3 wherein said top of said at least one lower semi-upright is displaceable between two extreme positions such that said top is displaced a first distance, and the distance between said first pin and said second pin is substantially equal to one-half said first distance and the distance between the lower end of said lower semi-upright and said second pin is substantially equal to one-half the distance between said first pin and said second pin.
 5. Adjustable asymmetric bars in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lower handrail upright comprises a lower tube and an upper tube telescoping into said lower tube for slidable movement for adjusting the level of said lower handrail. 